Speed Training

Speed training is essential to effective self defense. "The ultimate goal of the warrior is to learn to end the fight with a single blow" this was stated by Miyamoto Musashi in his famous text "A Book of Five Rings. So how does the martial artist attain their own level of maximum speed for quick strikes and devastating kicks? Lets explore.
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1. repetition

2. proper technique

3. visualization

4. explosive conditioning

5. natural reaction


Repetition: No speed training method can be effective without repetition training, practicing your techniques over and over until they become ingrained in your consciousness.

Proper technique: Fast sloppy techniques are ineffective and will keep you from advancing. This is part of repetition training. Practicing your techniques over and over using smooth form and proper technique.

Visualization: See yourself as fast, may sound funny, but this works. I have visualized my backhand striking my opponents head and it does. It's amazing when it happens, because it just happens.

Explosive Conditioning: Slow progressive exercise is great for building strength, but explosive training like plyometrics, Olympic type weight lifting and sprinting are great for building explosive power and should be part of every martial artist speed training regimen.

Natural Reaction: The hardest to develop even thou you already possess it. Ever strike a match, have a piece fly off at your face and you jerk out of the way or have someone throw something at you unexpectedly and you deflect, dodge or catch it, no thought, just happens. One instructor I trained with was always throwing tennis balls, or would lash out with a kick or punch at his students unexpectedly. In the beginning you would just stand there and get hit in the head with the ball or take a quick kick or punch to the body, but the students would quickly learn to react. These were difficult people to sucker punch as they developed their natural reactions.

Every effective Martial artist follows an effective speed training program.